OBJECTIVETo study the relationship of nonsyndromic cleft lip and/or palate (NSCL/P) and poliovirus receptor-related 1 exon3 (PVRL1exon3) polymorphisms in Han People of Jiangzhe area.

METHODSPVRL1exon3 was examined by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) technique in the 50 patients with NSCL/P and 85 healthy parents.

RESULTSNo W185X mutation was found in the PVRL1exon 3.

CONCLUSIONIt indicates that there is no relationship between NSCL/P and PVRL1exon3 in Han People in Jiangzhe area.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; genetics ; Child, Preschool ; Cleft Lip ; genetics ; Cleft Palate ; genetics ; Exons ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Nectins ; Pedigree ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptors, Virus ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the molecular mechanism of nectin-like molecule 1 (NECL1) inhibiting the migration and invasion of U251 glioma cells.

METHODSWe infected U251 glioma cells with adeno-nectin-like molecule 1 (Ad-NECL1) or empty adenovirus (Ad). Transwell and wound healing assays were performed to observe the migration of U251 cells incubated with the cell supernatant from Ad-NECL1 or Ad infected U251 cells. DNA microarray was applied to screen the gene expression profile after the restoration of NECL1 in U251 glioma cell lines. The differential expression of osteopontin (OPN), a gene related to migration and invasion, was further analyzed with semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blot, and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe restoration of NECL1 inhibited migration of U251 cells significantly (P<0.05). Altogether 195 genes were found differentially expressed by microarray, in which 175 were up-regulated and 20 down-regulated, including 9 extracellular matrix proteins involved in the migration of cells. Both mRNA and protein expressions of OPN, the most markedly reduced extracellular matrix protein, were found decreased in U251 cells after restoration of NECL1. Immunohistochemical assay also detected an increase of OPN in glioma tissues, related with the progressing of malignant grade.

CONCLUSIONA link might exist between NECL1 and the extracellular matrix protein OPN in inhibiting the migration and invasion of U251 glioma cells.

Brain Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; physiology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; physiology ; Glioma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Nectins ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; physiopathology ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; physiopathology ; Osteopontin ; genetics

AIMTo understand the biological functions of the ectoplasmic specializations between Sertoli cells and maturing spermatids in seminiferous epithelia.

METHODSIn order to disrupt the function of the ectoplasmic specializations, nectin-2, which is expressed at the specialization, was neutralized with anti-nectin-2 antibody micro-injected into the lumen of the mouse seminiferous tubule. Anti-nectin-3 antibody was also micro-injected into the lumen in order to neutralize nectin-3, which is expressed at the specialization.

RESULTSThe actin filaments at the specialization disappeared, and exfoliation of maturing spermatids was observed by electron microscopy.

CONCLUSIONNectin-2 was neutralized by anti-nectin-2 antibody and nectin-3 was neutralized by anti-nectin-3 antibody, respectively. Inactivated nectin-2 and nectin-3 disrupted the nectin-afadin-actin system, and finally the actin filaments disappeared. As a result, the specialization lost the holding function and detachment of spermatids was observed. One of the functions of the specialization seems to be to hold maturing spermatids until spermiation.

Actins ; metabolism ; Animals ; Antibodies ; immunology ; pharmacology ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; immunology ; metabolism ; Cell Communication ; drug effects ; physiology ; Intercellular Junctions ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Microfilament Proteins ; metabolism ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Nectins ; Seminiferous Epithelium ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Sertoli Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Spermatids ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study on the expression patterns of proteins associated with cell junctions in the developing mouse testes.

METHODThe expression levels of reproductive related cell lines spermatogonia cell line GC1 spg, spermatocyte cell line GC2 spg, leydig cell line TM3, and sertoli cell line TM4, primary sertoli cells, and 1-6-week mouse testes were analyzed using Western blot.

RESULTSThe sertoli cell junction-associated membrane proteins adhesion molecule A, Occludin and Claudin, and the sertoli-germ cell junction-associated membrane proteins junctional adhesion molecule C, Nectin-3, and E-cadherin were stage-specific in the seminiferous tubules in the mouse testes. The adaptor proteins associated with cell juctions zonula occludens-1, zonula occludens-2, Afadin, Β-catenin, and CD2-associated protein were not stage-specific in the seminiferous tubules in the mouse testes.

CONCLUSIONSIn the seminiferous tubules in the mouse testes, the membrane proteins associated with cell junctions are stage-specific. However, the expressions of adaptor proteins associated with cell junctions do not obviously change.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cdh1 Proteins ; metabolism ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Cytoskeletal Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Intercellular Junctions ; metabolism ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; Mice ; Microfilament Proteins ; metabolism ; Nectins ; Seminiferous Tubules ; cytology ; metabolism ; Sertoli Cells ; cytology ; Testis ; cytology ; Zonula Occludens-1 Protein ; metabolism ; Zonula Occludens-2 Protein ; metabolism ; beta Catenin ; metabolism